How to Fix a Fire Stick That's Not Working: The Ultimate Guide

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Troubleshoot Fire TV Stick problems with video, audio, Wi-Fi, & more
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Is your Fire Stick suddenly giving you problems? If your Fire Stick won't turn on, has a blank screen, gets stuck on the Amazon logo, isn't responding to your remote, is not playing sound, or you're having trouble with apps, there's usually an easy fix. This beginner-friendly troubleshooting guide will teach you how to fix the most common problems on Amazon Fire Stick.

Firestick Not Working: Quick Fixes

  • Unplug the power cord from your Fire TV Stick for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
  • Make sure the correct HDMI port is selected and/or try a different port.
  • Restart your router and modem.
  • Replace the batteries in your remote.
  • Try a different power source and power cable.
  • Restore your Fire Stick to its original factory settings.
Section 1 of 14:

Fire Stick Won't Turn On

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  1. If your Fire Stick doesn't turn on when you press the Power button, give it a quick restart. To do this, unplug the power cord from the outlet, leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in.
  2. If you can't turn on the Fire Stick with your remote, the remote may be out of batteries. Try a fresh set of batteries to rule out battery issues.
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  3. Always use the power cable and adapter that came with your Fire Stick or an Amazon-branded replacement, as other cables may not work. [1] Replace the current USB cable with another one to rule out cable problems. Connect the Fire Stick's power cable directly to the wall, if possible, instead of to your TV or other devices.
  4. If your Fire Stick's power cable is connected to a power strip or outlet splitter, try plugging directly into the wall outlet. If it's already plugged right into the wall, try a different outlet. You can also try plugging a different electrical item into the outlet to make sure the outlet is working.
  5. If your TV has multiple HDMI ports (and most do), it may be using the wrong input. Grab your TV's remote control and press the Source or Input button a few times to cycle through the available inputs.
    • If you are using an HDMI hub with multiple ports, connect the Fire Stick directly to the HDMI port in your TV to rule out problems with the hub.
  6. To rule out a problem with your TV's HDMI port, unplug the Fire Stick from its current one, then plug it into another available port. Use your TV's remote control to switch to the input of the new HDMI port to see if the Fire Stick is working again.
  7. If your Fire Stick still doesn't work, resetting it to the way it was when you first bought it may fix the problem. To reset your Fire Stick:
    • On your remote, press and hold the Back and Right navigational buttons at the same time, and continue holding them down for about 10 seconds.
    • When prompted, choose the option to continue, and your Fire Stick will reset. [2]
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Section 2 of 14:

Fire Stick Stuck on Amazon Logo Screen

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  1. If your Fire Stick starts but gets stuck on the Amazon logo instead of taking you to your Home screen, you may just need a quick restart. Unplug the power cord from the outlet, leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in.
  2. Even if it's been several minutes, the Fire Stick may still need time to load. Waiting about 25 minutes usually results in getting past the Amazon logo screen.
    • If it's been 30 minutes since the Amazon logo first appeared, continue to the next step.
  3. If your Fire Stick is still stuck on the Amazon logo, resetting it to the way it was when you first bought it may fix the problem. To reset your Fire Stick:
    • On your remote, press and hold the Back and Right navigational buttons at the same time, and continue holding them down for about 10 seconds.
    • When prompted, choose the option to continue, and your Fire Stick will reset. [3]
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Section 3 of 14:

Fire Stick Blank or Black Screen

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  1. If your Fire Stick shows a black or blank screen, isn't responding, shows "No Signal," or doesn't show the Home screen after starting up, give it a quick restart. To do this, unplug the power cord from the outlet, leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in.
  2. If your TV has multiple HDMI ports (and most do), it may be using the wrong input. Grab your TV's remote control and press the Source or Input button a few times to cycle through the available inputs.
    • If you are using an HDMI hub with multiple ports, connect the Fire Stick directly to the HDMI port in your TV to rule out problems with the hub.
    • To rule out a problem with your TV's HDMI port, unplug the Fire Stick from its current one, then plug it into another available port. Use your TV's remote control to switch to the input of the new HDMI port to see if the Fire Stick is working again.
  3. Sometimes the Fire Stick screen won't show up or load properly if the device can't get online. You can often fix this by unplugging your wireless router's power cable for about 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Wait about 5 minutes for your wireless router to come back online and for the Fire Stick to reconnect.
    • If the Fire Stick doesn't reconnect on its own and you are able to navigate with the remote, you can connect manually . Select the gear icon near the top of the screen—it should appear even if the Home screen doesn't load all the way. Then, go to Settings > Network and select your network to connect.
    • Press the Play/Pause button on your Fire Stick's remote while your Wi-Fi network is selected to view the current status. [4]
  4. If you still can't see the home screen, try your Fire TV Stick on another device. If the problem happens on the other TV, it's time to replace your Fire Stick.
  5. If your Fire Stick still doesn't work, resetting it to the way it was when you first bought it may fix the problem. To reset your Fire Stick:
    • On your remote, press and hold the Back and Right navigational buttons at the same time, and continue holding them down for about 10 seconds.
    • When prompted, choose the option to continue, and your Fire Stick will reset. [5]
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Section 4 of 14:

Fire Stick Can't Connect to Wi-Fi

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  1. If you're unable to stream anything and/or see "Home is Currently Unavailable" when you try to use your Fire Stick, it doesn't have an internet connection. Before messing around in menus, try unplugging the Fire Stick from power for about 30 seconds and plugging it back in. Sometimes this is all you'll need to do to force the device to reconnect to Wi-Fi. [6]
  2. Here's how:
    • Select the gear icon at the top of the Home screen.
    • Select Network .
    • Select the Wi-Fi network your Fire Stick should be connected to.
    • Press the Play/Pause button to display the network status. If problems are found, follow the on-screen instructions to troubleshoot them.
    • If you see the options to do so, you can select Run Speed Test to check for latency, or Advanced to see more advanced network details.
  3. You can do this from the Network settings menu as well. Just scroll down, select Wi-Fi , then select it again to turn it off. After a few seconds, select it again to turn it back on.
  4. This step will require you to have your Wi-Fi password handy, so make sure you have the password available.
    • In your Network settings, select your Wi-Fi network.
    • Press the Menu button on your Fire Stick remote and press the Select or OK button. This will forget the network.
    • After a few moments, select your Wi-Fi network again and enter the password to reconnect to Wi-Fi .
  5. If your Fire Stick still can't connect to the internet, unplug the power cords from both your modem and router (if they are separate devices), and leave them unplugged for about a minute. Plug them back in, and then wait about 5 minutes for them to come back online. Your Fire Stick should reconnect on its own.
    • If, after restarting your home network, your Fire Stick still can't get online, there could be a problem with your network. Check other devices on the same network to ensure they're working properly.
    • There is a chance the person who manages your home router (if it's not you) has blocked access to your Fire Stick. If it still can't get online, contact that person to let them know.
  6. If your Fire Stick still doesn't work, resetting it to the way it was when you first bought it may fix the problem. To reset your Fire Stick:
    • On your remote, press and hold the Back and Right navigational buttons at the same time, and continue holding them down for about 10 seconds.
    • When prompted, choose the option to continue, and your Fire Stick will reset. [7]
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Section 5 of 14:

Fire Stick Remote Not Working

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  1. The most common reason your Fire Stick remote stops working is because it runs out of batteries. Switch to a fresh new set of batteries and try again.
  2. Your remote needs to be within 10 ft of the Fire Stick. [8] Try getting closer to the TV if you're further away than that.
  3. If you still can't use your Fire TV Stick remote, start troubleshooting by disconnecting the Fire Stick's power cord and waiting 60 seconds. Don't plug it back in yet . Even though you won't plug it back in after waiting 60 seconds, you'll still need to wait 60 seconds for the remote to stop trying to find the Fire Stick before moving to the next step.
    • These steps should work for most Fire Stick remotes. If they don't for your remote, see How to Reset a Firestick Remote for a more detailed breakdown for different models.
  4. Continue holding down these buttons on your Fire Stick remote for 12 seconds, and then release them. [9]
    • If you have a 1st generation Alexa Voice Remote, press and hold the Left and Menu buttons at the same time instead.
  5. Leave the batteries out for now.
  6. After a few moments, you will see a message on the screen saying the remote cannot be detected.
  7. This should force the remote to pair with the Fire Stick again. Wait about 10 seconds, then try using your remote.
    • If your remote still doesn't work, press and hold the Home button for 10 seconds to try again.
  8. While unlikely, some devices, such as wireless speakers, phones, and microwaves, can interfere with your remote. You may even encounter problems with unshielded coaxial cables.
  9. If your Fire Stick remote still doesn't work, it likely needs to be replaced . Fortunately, in the meantime, you can use your phone as a remote as long as it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick. You can download the Fire TV app from the App Store on iPhone/iPad, or the Play Store on Android.
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Section 6 of 14:

Fire Stick Apps are Crashing or Not Loading

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  1. If a specific app keeps crashing on you, you can often fix it by clearing its cache and data. Fortunately, this is super easy to do.
  2. You'll see this on the Settings menu.
  3. A list of apps on your Fire TV Stick will appear.
  4. To do this, select the name of the app, select Clear Cache , and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm. Then, select Clear Data and do the same.
  5. If clearing the cache and data doesn't prevent the app from crashing, try removing it and reinstalling it from the store. [10]
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Section 7 of 14:

Prime Video Isn't Working on Fire Stick

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  1. If you see "Something went wrong" or "Unable to play" when you try to stream content from Amazon Prime Video, your device may be out of date. Here's how to update it:
    • Select the gear icon on the home screen.
    • Select Device & Software .
    • If updates are available, follow the on-screen instructions to install them. [11]
  2. Internet problems can cause issues with streaming Prime Video. Unplug the power cords from both your modem and router (if they are separate devices), and leave them unplugged for about a minute. Plug them back in, and then wait about 5 minutes for them to come back online. Your Fire Stick should reconnect on its own.
  3. This will often clear up problems with Prime Video streaming.
    • Select the gear icon on your Fire Stick's home screen.
    • Select Applications > Manage Applications .
    • Select Prime Video .
    • Select Clear Cache and confirm, then choose Clear Data and confirm.
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Section 8 of 14:

Fire Stick Has Video but No Sound

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  1. If you have video but not audio, your audio device—perhaps your TV's built-in speakers, soundbar, or other connected audio devices—may be muted. Press the volume up button several times on your Fire Stick remote, as well as your TV's remote, to rule this out. [12]
  2. If you were using Bluetooth headphones, the Fire Stick may still be sending audio to those, even if you've taken them off. Turn off your Bluetooth listening devices, or select the gear icon and go to Controllers and Bluetooth Devices > Other Bluetooth Devices and remove any devices you're not currently using.
  3. To make sure your Fire Stick is set to the correct surround sound settings for your devices:
    • Select the gear icon on your home screen.
    • Select Display and Sound .
    • Select Audio .
    • Select Surround Sound .
    • Select Best Available.
  4. Using your TV's remote control, navigate to its settings ( not your Fire TV Stick's settings) and look for an option like Audio , Speakers , or Sound . Make sure the correct sound device (such as your TV's built-in speakers or your soundbar) is selected.
  5. If there's still no sound, plug your Fire Stick into a different HDMI port and use the TV remote to switch to the new input by pressing the Input or Source button. If you get sound on the other HDMI port, the problem is likely related to the original HDMI port.
  6. If you're unable to stream anything and/or see "Home is Currently Unavailable" when you try to use your Fire Stick, it doesn't have an internet connection. Try unplugging the Fire Stick from power for about 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Sometimes this is all you'll need to do to force the device to reconnect to Wi-Fi.
  7. If your Fire Stick has sound on another TV, the issue is related to the original TV or its settings.
  8. If your Fire Stick still doesn't produce audio, resetting it to the way it was when you first bought it may fix the problem. If it doesn't, there is likely a hardware issue. To reset your Fire Stick:
    • On your remote, press and hold the Back and Right navigational buttons at the same time, and continue holding them down for about 10 seconds.
    • When prompted, choose the option to continue, and your Fire Stick will reset.
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Section 9 of 14:

Can't Install Fire Stick Updates

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  1. If you're able to stream movies and shows, you have an internet connection. You can also go to your Settings > Network , select your network, and press the Play/Pause button to check the network status.
  2. Unplug your Fire Stick's power cord for about 60 seconds and plug it back in. [13]
  3. Your Fire Stick needs at least 500 MB of space to download and install updates. To see if you have enough space:
    • Select the gear icon on your home screen.
    • Select Device & Software .
    • Select About .
    • Select Storage .
    • If you don't have enough space, you'll need to delete some apps so you can install the update.
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Section 10 of 14:

Can't Cast Apps to Fire Stick

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  1. To cast from a compatible app , you'll need to use a device that supports Chromecast. This includes all modern Androids, Chromebooks, and the Google Chrome web browser on your Windows PC or Mac. This feature is not available on iPhone or iPad. [14]
  2. If the devices are on different networks, your Fire Stick may not appear in the list of devices to cast to.
  3. The device you're casting from must be within 30 ft. of your Fire TV Stick. Even if you're within that range, try moving closer in case there's interference.
  4. If you still can't cast, try unplugging your Fire Stick for about 10 seconds and plugging it back in. If that doesn't do the trick, restart the phone, tablet, or computer you're trying to cast or mirror from. [15]
  5. If you're trying to cast from your Android, open your Android's Settings , select Apps and choose the app you're trying to cast from. Select Storage , then choose the option to Clear cache .
  6. If your Fire Stick isn't showing up as an option when casting, there could be a network problem. You can often fix this by unplugging your wireless router's power cable for about 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Wait about 5 minutes for your wireless router to come back online and for the Fire Stick to reconnect.
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Section 11 of 14:

Can't Screen Mirror to Fire Stick

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  1. To mirror your screen, you'll need an Android that supports Miracast or a Windows PC that supports WiDi (Wireless Display). [16] Unfortunately, AirPlay isn't supported , so you can't mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Fire Stick. [17]
  2. If you want to mirror your screen to your Fire Stick, you must enable Display Mirroring.
    • Select the gear icon on your Fire Stick home screen.
    • Select Display & Audio or Display & Sound .
    • Select Enable Display Mirroring if available.
    • If you don't see this option, your Fire TV Stick doesn't support mirroring.
  3. If the devices are on different networks, your Fire Stick may not show up in the list of devices to mirror to.
  4. The device you're mirroring from must be within 30 ft. of your Fire TV Stick. Try moving closer, even if you're within range, to rule out interference.
  5. If you still can't mirror, try unplugging your Fire Stick for about 10 seconds and plugging it back in. If that doesn't do the trick, restart the phone, tablet, or computer you're trying to cast or mirror from. [18]
  6. If your Fire Stick isn't showing up as an option when mirroring, there could be a network problem. You can often fix this by unplugging your wireless router's power cable for about 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Wait about 5 minutes for your wireless router to come back online and for the Fire Stick to reconnect.
  7. If your Fire Stick has outdated software, it may not support mirroring. To check for and install updates:
    • Select the gear icon on the Home screen.
    • Select Device & Software .
    • Select About .
    • Select Check for System Update and follow the on-screen instructions.
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Section 12 of 14:

4K Ultra HD Not Working on Fire Stick

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  1. If you have a 4K Fire Stick and are using an older TV, the TV may not support the desired resolution. To check:
    • Select the gear icon on your home screen.
    • Select Display & Sound .
    • Select Audio/Video Diagnostics .
    • Follow the on-screen instructions.
  2. If your test determined 4K is supported but you're not getting 4K quality, keep in mind that not all streaming services support 4K. Even some services that do support 4K only support it at some subscription levels. If you're able to stream but the quality isn't 4K, it could be the app you're streaming with. [19]
  3. If 4K is supported, you must have a strong internet connection to stream in 4K. You can check your internet speed using any device connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire Stick—just open Google and search for "Internet speed test" for instant results.
    • For better speeds, switch to a wired (ethernet connection). If that isn't possible, make sure your Fire Stick is as close to the Wi-Fi router as possible.
  4. If the quality is still bad and your TV supports 4K 30 Hz Dolby Vision, your Fire Stick may be decreasing the quality for smoother playback. Try switching to 4K 60 Hz in Settings > Display & Sounds .
  5. You'll only get 4K quality with a high-speed HDMI cable. If you don't have one, you can get one fast on Amazon.
  6. To use 4K, your receiver or soundbar must be connected to an HDMI port with HDCP 2.2 and support pass-through for 4K resolutions. [20] Double-check your AV equipment manuals to ensure they support Ultra 4K.
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Section 13 of 14:

Silk Web Browser Not Working on Fire Stick

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  1. If you can't browse the web on your Fire TV Stick, you may just need to clear the browser app's data and cache. [21]
    • Select the gear icon on the home screen.
    • Select Applications .
    • Select the Silk browser under Manage Installed Applications .
    • Select both Clear cache and Clear data .
  2. An easy way to do this is to press and hold the Select or OK button and the Play/Pause Button down at the same time for 10 seconds. You can also unplug the Fire Stick and plug it back in.
  3. If you're having trouble scrolling to another section of a webpage, move the cursor to the section you want to scroll to. Press and hold Select or OK as you press the directional pad to scroll through that section.
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Section 14 of 14:

Alexa Not Working on Fire Stick

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  1. You can only link your Alexa device to your Fire Stick if both devices are signed in with the same Amazon account. [22]
  2. Your Alexa-enabled device must be on the same network as the Fire Stick. If either is connected via ethernet, you won't be able to link the devices.
  3. If both devices aren't using the latest versions of their software, you may have trouble linking them.
    • You can update your Alexa device by saying "Alexa, check for software updates" [23] .
    • To update your Fire Stick, select the gear icon, go to Device & Software > About > Check for System Update .
  4. The app itself could be glitching out, which would cause Alexa not to connect to your Fire Stick.
  5. Unplug the power from your Fire Stick for about a minute, then plug it back in. Restart your Echo or preferred Alexa device and wait a few moments.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GYFBX6H2ZQLQ2XRJ
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      9. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GMDKZSFRSX7NKKN3
      1. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GJZBJS5B8VBCGQ48
      2. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GJZBJS5B8VBCGQ48
      3. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GUTRAKHM3WQWWRF7
      4. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G5TLP5R3W27APEHB
      5. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=Tc8IQxiKhLbS5O9b95
      6. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=TzdjiOUxayYkD2LglB
      7. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GA7K5AML6222YDEW
      8. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GA7K5AML6222YDEW
      9. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=TzdjiOUxayYkD2LglB
      10. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GCKWRQF6VWJYXQ3X
      11. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GCKWRQF6VWJYXQ3X
      12. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=T2UeavLQEiLd1J8dox&ref_=hp_GHH5TUHA7677G4HJ_Silk-Web-Browser-Not-Working-o
      13. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GW36Q8K5HC5HDMMV
      14. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GEYUPNHC9AYVL4Q3

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